Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute Features

Updates

You are invited to come to any or all three of the IMRI student 20-minute PowerPoint presentations from 2:40-3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, in the LTC Team Space, on the the ground floor of Roesch Library.

1. The Controversy about St. Gregory Palamas and Mary's Immaculate Conception -- by Father Emmanuel L. Fale -- LTC Team Space, 2:40–3:00

St. Gregory Palamas (1296 – 1359), perhaps "the most influential theologian and mystic of the Orthodox Church of the Middle Ages," considers the divine maternity as Mary's greatest prerogative because "she made God the Son of man, and makes men the sons of God." She gained other privileges only in view of her divine maternity. Accordingly, she was clothed with a likeness to her Son. Martin Jugie claimed St. Gregory as supporting the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, but Hilda Graef and John Meyendorff disagreed. Later, Pope Saint John Paul II cited Palamas as one of the Eastern theologians that expounded the truth of the Immaculate Conception. This presentation will examine what St. Gregory Palamas actually held about Mary's Conception in comparison with the Catholic understanding of the Immaculate Conception.

2. Suarez's Use of the Fathers of the Church in His Exposition of Mary's Virginity While Giving Birth -- by Father Christopher G. Roberts -- LTC Team Space, 3:00–3:20

This project will examine the manner in which the Baroque Jesuit theologian, Francis Suarez, used the Fathers of the Church to interpret the Bible in his discussion of Mary's virginity while giving birth to Jesus (virginitas in partu). While Scripture was an important norm for Suarez, the Fathers of the Church provided a singular testimony to the rule of faith for biblical passages that were difficult to interpret. Rather than merely appealing to their authority as witnesses to the antiquity of a belief, Suarez evaluated the strength of their arguments. He recognized that some Fathers effectively employed semantic analysis, recourse to apocryphal sources and inter-testamental typology to support their arguments. The manner in which Suarez used the Fathers to interpret the Bible provides a methodological standard for appeals to the Fathers of the Church in doctrinal controversies.

3. The Virgin Mary kissed by the mouth of God, Song of Songs 1:2a -- by Maria Enriqueta Garcia -- LTC Team Space, 3:20–3:40

The Blessed Virgin Mary is often associated with the bride of the Song of Songs. In this holy poem, the bride asks to be kissed by her beloved. Through spiritual interpretations, the Song of Songs expresses the love between Israel and God, between the Church and Christ. In the Virgin Mary, this love becomes concrete in her womb. The kiss is the beginning of the intimacy between husband and wife, when they start to become one. This presentation will explain the importance of understanding a kiss from the mouth of God in the biblical context, and its implications in the Mystery of Incarnation.

Even if you can't come, please spread the word to anyone else you think might be interested. Thank you for considering this invitation and God bless you!

Mary in Media: Books, Films, Music, etc.

Teresa Monaghen informed us about a Catholic website with podcasts, including a section on Mary, Discerning Hearts. Also note that Teresa hosts a Pro Sanctity program called Holiness Helpers every Saturday on Spirit Catholic Radio.

From the Marian Treasure Chest

Brother John M. Samaha, S.M., sent us the article below with these comments: "This article about Mary and Maronite Catholics appears in The Maronite Voice, April 2016."

The Virgin Mary in Maronite Life by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

Persecutions and similar adversities caused the Maronite faithful to migrate soon after they began to gather at the Monastery of Saint Maron on the Orontes River. They fled Antioch to seek a safe haven in the rugged mountains of Lebanon early in the sixth century. Challenges persisted through the Umayyad, Fatimide, and Mamlouk dynasties and continued through the duration of the Ottoman Empire (fifteenth to the twentieth centuries). The difficulties of the last two centuries were no less aggravating for Lebanon and the Maronites--and other Eastern Christians. The massacres of the 1840's and 1860's, the two World Wars, and the Lebanese civil war of the last quarter of the twentieth century led to a continued flow of emigrants. Oppression, famine, strife, lack of job opportunities, and other hardships again forced Maronite and other Christians to migrate from the Near East not only to neighboring Middle Eastern countries, but also to Europe, to the Americas, and to Oceania.

Always and everywhere the Blessed Virgin Mary was part of Maronite life as the faithful persevered and established parishes and eparchies in their new lands. Generations later, the immigrants of the expanded Church and their progeny still maintain their precious heritage and strive to solidify their communities. The Maronites of today strive to preserve their religious heritage and spirituality as they celebrate their rich liturgical and paraliturgical services, and make efforts to hand on the Maronite tradition. Among the cherished paraliturgical services is the Benediction with the Icon of the Virgin Mary while chanting the hymn Ya Umm Allah (O Mother of God). But often the young do not understand the deeper special significance, and need some instruction and assistance toward that end. It is important to enlighten our younger generation about this and other revered Marian devotions received from our ancestors, and to realize why they placed themselves under the mantle of our Blessed Mother's protection.

The Maronite Church is both Apostolic and Marian, built upon the Apostles and the love of the Virgin Mary. Our Church has journeyed over the ages with the Virgin Mary, whose icon is engraved in every heart and honored in every home. Every morning and every evening and in every difficulty our people naturally sigh Ya Adra (O Blessed Virgin). Everywhere the icon of the Virgin Mary is our constant companion.

Maronite devotion to Mary highlights her relationship to her Son, to the life of the Church, and to each of us personally. This manifests itself in our liturgical practices and various devotions. If prayer, liturgical prayer in particular, is the true expression of faith, then Maronites exhibit special veneration of Mary stemming from the Scriptures, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church, and the faith of its people. As Mother of our Redeemer, she is also the spiritual mother of each of us, and leads us to her Son.

Realizing this underscores the importance and need to return to and delve into the sources of our Marian heritage. This will energize our veneration of her and strengthen our filial attachment to her. This attachment to Mary is the attachment of children to a mother, and inspires us to have for her a shrine in every town, an icon in every home, and filial love for her in every heart.

Mary in the Catholic Press

Rome's Papal Basilicas to Be on Big Screenfrom Zenit April 5, 2016

Rome's four papal basilicas are coming to the big screen for three days next week, marking an all-time first.

According to Vatican Radio, select cinemas worldwide will feature a ninety-minute film, titled St. Peter's and the Papal Basilicas of Rome, April 11–13, which will enable audiences to experience a 3-D tour of St Peter's, St. Mary Major, St John Lateran, and St Paul Outside the Walls.

To be distributed in more than fifty countries, including Italy, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Canada, U.K., Ireland, and Spain, the film was produced by the Vatican Television Center and SKY 3D, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of heritage and culture....

Mary in the Secular Press

The director and editors of All About Mary under the auspices of the International Marian Research Institute do not necessarily endorse or agree with the events and ideas expressed in this feature. Our sole purpose is to report on items about Mary gleaned from a myriad of papers representing the secular press.

The Daughters of Saint Paul have launched a "Cinema Novena" as an online prayer companion to the just-released film, The Young Messiah, "to draw audiences deeper to the Holy Family," said an announcement from the Boston-based religious community. Beginning March 11, the nine-day online novena of prayer goes until March 19, the feast of Saint Joseph. Each day, the online novena will include a film clip from The Young Messiah, a corresponding question for reflection/meditation, and a prayer to the Holy Family. The studio has released nine clips on various themes related to the Holy Family as depicted in the film. The novena is using the hashtags #CinemaNovena, #TheYoungMessiah, and #HolyFamilyPrayForUS.